32. Rozronuuk
The Autumn Court
W hile Thea slept soundly in her bed for the first time in years, I slipped out of the bedchamber’s door. Arline and Raefa nodded at me. I nodded back, knowing my mate would be safe for the few moments I’d be away from her. I made my way out of the castle to the colosseum. My destination was the dungeon.
I walked down the long corridor, the torches flickered on the walls reminding me of my time here. Of the endless days. The pain of being away from my mate. Now I suffered a new pain. I was away from my son.
Son.
The word filled my heart with so much love for someone I’d never even met. I didn’t think it was possible. Thea might be right that his existence would be in jeopardy if the sirens ever discovered his identity, but I wouldn’t give up hope of meeting him one day. Of reuniting us as a family.
To my left, a hand shot out at my feet between the bars, but a sizzle and flash of bright orange exploded on the arm. A singed flesh scent filled the dungeon. I stepped up to the cell, peering in at the one person who looked like my mate.
“Melanie,” I said. “Did you like my additional protection of your bars?”
Rage Demons possessed a lot more power than most thought.
She whimpered, well, attempted to, but with no voice box and a gaping hole in her throat, no genuine sound emerged.
I glared at her with all the loathing I had for this woman who should have loved my mate as a loyal family member. More than anyone I’d love Thea, but losing her sister would hurt her on a level she wouldn’t admit to as the queen.
“I know you were responsible for the attack on Thea’s life.”
She didn’t glance away, but her fingers twitched.
“Of course, I can’t prove it. Using blood magic to disintegrate the body of the wolf shifter was smart. In the same way, you disposed of her father, too.”
This time, her fingers curled into fists.
“Thea would kill you if she ever found out.” I folded my arms over my chest. “But you know that, don’t you?”
Melanie couldn’t answer, but her eyes held a glimpse of fear amongst the hatred pouring off her.
“If I ever find the witch that helped you, I won’t keep it from her.”
Her hands moved to her healing throat. The gaping wound was closing slowly, and I didn’t want to be here when she’d healed enough to talk. I despised her more than I’d ever hated anything in my life.
“You may think you’ll break out, but you never will, so don’t even try, unless you want your flesh singed again, that is.” I peeled my lips back in a snarl.
She scrabbled onto all fours and pushed herself up to stand. She might have the same stubborn streak as Thea, but that was it, apart from their identical looks.
“It’s fitting, you here, me on the other side. You’ll get to feel what it’s like to be caged. In a way, I’m glad Thea didn’t let me kill you.”
Melanie’s shoulders shook.
The rage pouring off her fed my demon. Oh, having her here in the dungeon might be for the best. My mate was perhaps smarter than me.
I turned and took a step, then spun back. “Don’t misunderstand me, Melanie. Come near Thea again and I will kill you. Your death won’t be slow or painless either. I’ll keep you alive yet hanging onto death with hope. In the end, you’ll beg me to end your life. No one hurts my mate. Never again.”
I stomped back through the tunnels, glad to leave the putrid stench and cramped space behind.
Saltine stepped out of the shadows. My hands curled into fists. Even though she’d performed the mating ceremony, I still wanted to rip her head from her body.
“Beast.” She nodded. “I know you don’t trust me, but I see things others don’t. This is the only way all our futures will be.”
“Stop talking in riddles, Saltine.”
She lifted her hand. A silver chain dangled from her fingers and on the end, a large ruby dangled. “I have a gift for your son.”
“I don’t want you anywhere near him.”
“Don’t you want to know what it does first?”
I scowled, but hell help me, I wanted to know what she was up to now.
“What does it do?”
“It harnesses rage. Whoever wears it won’t feel rage.”
“Ever?”
“No.”
I stared at the dangling gem. How I’d wished for a secret cure to my rage as a child. To not live in fear I’d destroy people I loved. Realms too. My son probably didn’t even know he was part rage demon. This gemstone would keep him safe from his destructive powers.
“Answer me one question without a seer riddle.”
She waved her hand in a go-on gesture.
“Were you the one to help Melanie murder Thea’s father with blood magic?”
“My goodness, no. I wouldn’t tamper with blood magic with the intent to murder.”
“Give it to him.” I nodded. “But if you hurt him, then I’ll hunt you down, and it won’t be just me you’d have to deal with. It’d be Thea too.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less.” She tucked the necklace inside her cape. Shadows swirled around her body, and she disappeared as quickly as she’d appeared.
I flared my wings, feeling a tad lighter now with Saltine’s gift on its way to our son. The night air was cool, and the stars sparkled brightly as I flew back to the castle. I walked through the doors, snapping my wings back into my body as I climbed the stairs. At the landing, I nodded at Thea’s personal guards and let myself in.
The room smelled like Thea. I inhaled her scent, letting go of the rage I’d experienced seeing Melanie, and at the unfairness of not having our son here with us. I shucked off my clothes and crawled under the sheets, spooning Thea from behind. She sighed as my arm wrapped around her body and I dragged her closer to my chest.
“My Beast,” she mumbled drowsily.
“My mate.” I nuzzled her neck.
She arched into me, soft in slumber as she drifted back to sleep in my arms. Mine. All mine. Forever now we mingled our blood in her claiming ceremony. I’d never lose her again now the mating bond was complete. I’d be able to find her in any realm no matter if she couldn’t find her way back to me again, I’d find her. Always.
Today, tomorrow, forever, we’d be together.
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